REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today One apocalyptic sign of the end of the world order is the war among nations and kingdoms. And Jesus includes here the great tribulation that would fall on the city of Jerusalem. He has already wept over this city, for it did not know what makes for peace (Lk...
REFLECTIONS TODAY One tribulation that will mark the “end” is the coming persecution of Jesus’ disciples. But the disciples are not to worry about their defense; they are assured of God’s help and protection when they are brought to trial because of their faith. Luke, who writes of the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today In a certain way, the predictions of Jesus have already occurred for Luke’s readers. Wars and insurrections, famines and plagues occurred during the Jewish revolt. Jesus’ apostles and disciples had to face kings and governors on account of Jesus’ name, as...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today Her whole livelihood In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents a widow not as a receiver but as a giver, as a protagonist. In the “Court of Women” in the Jerusalem Temple, people drop their money for the temple treasury. The widow drops two coins, the equivalent of...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today JOHN 18:33b-37 Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me....
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today In driving out the merchants in the temple, Jesus is moved by two prophetic oracles. The first is from Isaiah: “For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (56:7). Trito-Isaiah foresaw the day when God would gather the dispersed children...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The popular meaning of the name Jerusalem is “city of peace,” from the Hebrew shalom , “peace.” The city might be identified with “Salem” where Melchizedek once reigned (Gn 14:18). Pilgrims who went up the city to worship God in the temple would pray for the peace of...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Luke’s Gospel parable is quite similar to Matthew’s parable of the Talents (25:14-30). The “talents” in Matthew are replaced by mnae (rendered as “gold coins”) which are of smaller value. The nobleman who goes off to a distant country and returns later after obtaining...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today Jesus, the one sought by Zacchaeus, is really the first seeker. He is the Son of Man who “has come to seek and to save what was lost.” He takes the initiative. He calls Zacchaeus because he means to stay at his house; he “commands” to be invited. He is...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today On their journey to Jerusalem, Jesus and his company reach Jericho, an oasis town and a stopover before an uphill journey to the Holy City. Here Jesus cures a blind beggar who is not hindered by his physical handicap and by people’s rebuke in his determination...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today MARK 13:24-32 Jesus said to his disciples: “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” “And then they will...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today The parable of the Persistent Widow is unusually explicit in describing the judge: he neither fears God nor respects any human being. In effect, the man is not religious and is incapable of shame. This unscrupulous character, however, meets his match in a rare...
